The arrival of October 2026 brings sweeping financial, civic, and regulatory adjustments that directly affect daily transactions and consumer routines across India. Starting October 15, a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) will take effect on UPI merchant payments exceeding ₹2,000, formally ending a six-year zero-MDR policy, with high-value transactions beyond ₹75,000 attracting a ₹300 fee, while standard peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers and smaller commercial purchases remain free. The move is currently facing scrutiny in the Supreme Court, which issued notices to the Centre, the RBI, and the NPCI without granting an interim stay. Meanwhile, State Bank of India salary package account holders will see their free non-SBI ATM transactions revised to five per month, revised National Pension System (NPS) fees will take effect alongside the upcoming RBI monetary policy decision on October 7, domestic LPG consumers must complete mandatory biometric Aadhaar authentication to preserve cylinder subsidies, and petrol pumps across Delhi will deny fuel to vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) via automated number plate scanners.

Festival Timetable and National Commemorations in October 2026

October heralds an intensive festive season celebrated nationwide with immense cultural fervor. The holy period of Navratri commences on October 11, with Durgashtami observed on October 18, Maha Navami on October 19, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra) on October 20. Later in the month, Sharad Purnima falls on October 25, followed by Valmiki Jayanti on October 26, and Karva Chauth on October 29. Nationally, October 2 marks the birth anniversaries of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Crucial Political Dates: Multi-State By-Elections and International Polls

On the political landscape, October features high-stakes democratic exercises across domestic and global arenas. By-elections are scheduled for October 6 across five legislative assembly constituencies—comprising Nandigram and Rajnagar in West Bengal, Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry—alongside the Naugaon Lok Sabha parliamentary seat in Assam, with vote counting scheduled for October 9. On the international stage, China observes its National Day on October 1, while general elections take place in Brazil on October 4 and Israel on October 27.